The White House has announced that there will be no changes to the US president's flight schedule to Kenya this weekend, after the time frame for his plane's landing and takeoff from Nairobi was revealed.

President Obama on Air Force One. Photo: Reuters

According to Fox News, an official from Kenya Airways on July 21 sent a notice about the expected time of the plane carrying US President Barack Obama to Nairobi this weekend. The email also sent to aviation officials at two major Kenyan airports about the date and time of airport closure.

The White House never releases the 40-50 minute time frame for Air Force One takeoffs and landings for security reasons.

White House national security adviser Susan Rice said yesterday that the Secret Service team responsible for protecting the president was aware of the leak. "But I don't think it disrupts our plans," she said.

A Kenya Airways representative denied that the company had leaked sensitive information, saying that according to standard procedures, the company must announce the time when Kenya's airspace is closed, such as when the plane carrying Obama took off and landed.

Mr Obama's visit to Kenya has raised security concerns, particularly for the Secret Service. The East African country has been the target of a string of attacks in recent years by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, which is based in neighboring Somalia.

In 2002, Kenyan officials said al Qaeda militants fired a shoulder-fired missile at a Boeing 757 as it took off from Moi International Airport. The plane was not hit.

During his visit to Africa, Mr. Obama will also visit Ethiopia. He returns to the United States on July 28.

(According to Reuters/VN Express)